Van Hagar Halen continues their descent into the “adult contemporary” genre, just take a look at that cover and tell me it doesn’t scream “BORING”. Looks like something from the ’60s or ’70s. It started with the band’s debut with Hagar on 1986’s 5150 (which was actually was a really good slick hard rock/pop album), but this time that fun vibe that album continued over from the David Lee Roth era is gone.

Sure, some of the good time subject matter is still here (sex, booze, partying in general), but it seems a bit more grown up and dark, if that’s possible when talking about having a good time. The album is definitely lifted by the great pop ballad “When It’s Love” and the awesome country-picking of “Finish What Ya Started” (two of my favorite Van Hagar songs).

OU812 is a really odd departure for the band that never really gets out of 2nd gear outside of “Source of Infection”, which sounds like the hard rockin’ Van Halen of old. Even more odd when you consider this album is sandwiched in between the two most fun and most Roth-like Van Hagar albums: 5150 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

The problem with OU812 is it’s best tracks are the ones that sound the least like Van Halen. I give Eddie and Sammy credit for working outside of the box and trying the bluesy “Black and Blue” or the country fusion of “Finish What Ya Started” and writing one of the best power ballads of the 80s “When It’s Love”.

But when Van Halen tries to sound like old Van Halen they fall flat on tracks like “Sucker in a 3 Piece” and “Source of Infection”. The album just doesn’t rock as hard as it should.